Union County Stories

FOURTH OF JULYA Glorious Celebration in Progress at the County Seat_________________________________A Multitude of Visitors Take Part in Observing the Day_________________________________THE STREET PAGEANT_________________An Imposing Parade With Many Patriotic Features___________________________________________Celebrations at Other Places in Union and Walowa Counties.

With its gaily decorated streets and buildings, the crowd of people
on every side, the irrepresible small boy with his fire-crackers and the
enlivening strains of music Union today present a gala appearance. Our
Fourth of July celebration is a grand success, not only in attendance,
but in the satisfactory carrying out of the programs arranged. It is hard
to estimate the number of visitors today in Union. All portions of the
county are represented: from Big Creek, Park, Cove, North Powder and Summerville
there are large delgations many of whom arrived last evening so as to be
up with the larks this glorious morning and assist in ushering in the Nation's
birthday in an appropriate way.

The grand parade was looked forward to with more than usual, interest
as the preperations under way for the past few days showed that far more
than ordinary care was being taken to make this part of the day's festivities
a great success.

Grand marshall O.F. Bell, with his aids were early in the field preparing
for the procession and shortly after nin o'clock the various divisions
were waiting to be placed in line. The procession headed by the Union silver
cornet band and the grand marshal and aids started from the court house
and marching down Main street to its northern terminus met the Cove delegation
with its Car of Liberty, band and long cavalcade of citizens in carriages
and on horseback. Here the line was reformed, the Cove given the post of
honor and under the inspiring strains of music the march through the principal
streets was taken upending at the Beautiful grove where the literary exercises
of the day were to take place. In the short space of time it is impossible
to give anything like a full description of the many events of the day
and have the REPUBLICAN in the hands of its many readers on time. Only
the more prominent features of the procesion ccan be noted today a more
extended and complete account necessarly being delayed until the next issue.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Leading the long procession immediately following the band was the Union
fire deparment, the fire laddies making a fine appearance in the line.
The truck of the hook and ladder companyis deserving a special mention
on account of its handsome decorations, the work of Mr. Ferd Block. Seated
upon the truck, under a canopy was Miss Lula Cleaver, of Baker City, as
the Fire Queen. The little Miss was attired in a becoming manner to meet
the requirements of the character she impersonated and was the recipient
of many approving smiles and glances as she passed in review of the thousands
of witnesses that lined either side of the streets through which the procession
passed.

THE LIBERTY CAR

Identified with all Fourth of July celebrations is the Liberty car with
its handsome decorations, flags and banners always a centre of attraction
to the crowds witnessing the procession. While not as an elaborate an affair
as perhaps seen in other places today, our Liberty Car presented a beautiful
appearance and a credit to those who worked faithfully to prepare it. Occupying
a central position on the car was Miss Nora Coffin as the Goddess of Liberty
appropriately arrayed in a handsome costume, while on every side of her
were the representatives of the various states of the Union. The young
misses occupying this car were: -

Not the least noticeable in the procession was the centennial car, gotten
up in a manner that displayed excellent taste on the part of the committee
having the same in charge. The central figure was George Washington, impersonated
by Master Harry Cooper, surrounded by a number of boys, attired in continental
suits, representing an epochin the history of our country 100 years ago.
The juvenile occupants of this care were:

Thirty four handsomely attired little girls, all under the age of eight
years, were the occupants of a decorated car that added greatly to the
interest displayed in the parade. These little ones represented the future
housekeepers of Union, each armed with a smal broom and the smiling faces
of a bevy of little one showed how heartily they tried to contribute a
full share to the success of the day. It will not be many years before
these little housekeepers will enter upon the real duties of the characters
they represented and the scenes of today be realistic reminder of their
youthful days. The little ones occupying the car were: -

While the other committees were busily engaged arranging their plans
for a successful celebration of the Fourth's number of the ladies conceived
the idea of getting up something on their account the management of which
should be entirely in their own hands. A meeting was organized, attended
by a large number of ladies, married and single and after discussing a
number of plans, the organization of a broom brigade was agreed upon. For
sometime they kept the object of their nightly meetings a secret, employing
A.J. Goodbrod to drill them, but it shortly became noised about what the
ladies were doing and interest increased as the nightly drills progressed.
The brigade occupied a prominent place in the procession and was the recipient
of much applause as it sturdily marched along, armed with their weapons
of defense. The ladies were attired in blue skirts, white waists, red scarfs
and white caps. Following are the names of those making up the brigade:
-

The Cove was well represented in the procession, the Car of Liberty
handsomely decorated and filled with a number of bright eyed children from
that delightful place being worthy of special mention. Great pains were
taken by the children and their parents to do full honor to the day and
that they succeeded admirably will be the general verdict of all who witnessed
them. Miss Mammie Bloom represented the Goodness of Liberty and was surrounded
by the following misses all appropriately costumed for the occasion: -

An attractive feature of the procession was the juvenile band made up
of children residing at the Cove, contributing in no small measure toward
the success of the celebration. La grande made a great effort to secure
these juvenile musicians but the little ones were unanimously in favor
of celebrating at Union. the juveniles wore blue knee breeches, white waists,
red stockings and tricolored caps, the girls supplementing this costume
with white skirts and blue sashes. Following are the members of the band:-

The Huggamuggar parade this afternoon promises to be a wonderful event
and will present many features. The sports of the day as arranged in the
programme and the ball at night will serve to keep the patriotic order
of the great crowd to the highest pitch and bring to a close the greatest
and most succesful Fourth of July celebration ever occurring in Union county.

AT OTHER PLACES

The celebration of the Fourth of July, in Union county, was by no means
confined to Union. At several places an elaborate programme of events was
arranged.

At La Grande the citizens united in having the day properly observed.
Hon. L.L. McArthur, of Portland, was invited to deliver the oration and
at night a grand dance was announced to take place in the large warehouse
of W.J. Snodgrass. Music was furnished during the day by the La Grande
brass band and John S. Clark, the popular agent of Frank Bros' is marshal
of the day.

At Pine valley the peopleof that portion of the county celebrated in
good style. Music was furnished by the Eagle valley band and Thomas H.
Crawford, of Union, delivered the oration.

At Elgin a rousing celebration is arranged for. Rev. J.M. Jones delivers
the oration, Professor Bean reads the Declaration of Independence nad Rev.
J.T. Morre is chaplian. The Summerville brass band under the leadership
of Harvey Rinehart will furnish excellent music. A variety of sports will
make up the afternoon programme and during the day the Calithumpians will
have a parade that promises to be an imense affair. A grand ball at night
will close the festivities.

IN WALLOWA COUNTY

Enterprise will celebrate with a procession and plug-ugly parade. Racing
and other sports will be had and a grand ball at the courthouse will close
the celebration. The Enterprise band furnishes the music. Rev. G.M. Irwin
delivers the oration and Miss Effie Goodman is reader. J.M. Church officiates
as president of the day.

Joseph is not at all behind in celebrating the fourth. The exercises
were held on the shores of Silver lake. A.C. Smith is president of the
day. L.O. Hoffman orator and Miss May Harris reader. Boat racing, sham
battles, a barbecue and a grand ball at night.

Lostine has prepared a good programme for a celebration, J.V. Luttrell
is orator, Mrs. C. Williamson, reader. Races, a plug-ugly parade, salutes
morning and evening and a dance at night are the principle events.